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rereader33's review
5.0
Alright, I am giving this five stars because the last third of the story is so freaking good! I will admit that the first third is a little slow and the characters are pretty awful people, but boy the rest of the story more than makes up for it. If there is anything this and The Call demonstrate, is that incredibly good people either don't exist or are hard to come by. O'Guilin makes it a point to show the humanity and the evil in just about everyone and while it can be disheartening at times it also makes them more realistic. Not all people are entirely good or entirely evil, and someone who has been good can be tainted by doubt or hopelessness. Considering the circumstances, it makes sense to have so many flawed, almost unlikable characters present, though some of the characters just grated on my nerves. The professor and Cassidy were the two big ones. I understand that the professor is meant to show how an obsession can cloud one's humanity/judgment but she was so annoying and obnoxious, I was thrilled when Nessa punched her. Cassidy was honestly not that interesting to me and seemed to exist because the story needed a "guy will go to any length to perform his duty, even torture someone but claim it's for the greater good" kind of character and I couldn't stand him. Honestly, they were the worst and everyone else was either awesome or tolerable. Th story was just as suspenseful as the first book, and I am not lying when I say that the suspense pays of spectacularly with regards to promises made and broken. Seriously, the last few chapters alone gave this book five stars in my eyes. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from this author, he is amazing!
poseidonstrdt's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
defaultnamespace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
pezzo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
alongreader's review
5.0
Usually when I pick up a sequel some time after reading the first book, it takes a while to get back into the flow of the story, to remember the world and the characters and all the little things that make the story unique. Not with this book. Two pages in I was already sucked back into this strange, hopeless Ireland and the struggles its people were facing.
There's a little more world building in this one, which was great; it was sad but interesting to see how the rest of the Nation was faring, both those too old to be Called and the so called 'survivors' of the Call. One of the things that really struck me was the repeated assurance that 'the Nation has no resources to waste on criminals'. It's a tiny detail but it paints a huge, unpleasant picture of the society forced on these people.
The ending was very clever; I only realised it about half a page ahead of Nessa, I'm ashamed to say, but once I'd read it I was able to look back and see the clues and hints sprinkled in throughout the book. I'd love to know what happened to some of the side characters who seemed to vanish, though. How about some short stories, Peader? (You probably don't remember me, I was the girl selling your book when you visited Clongowes late one winter evening...)
I could read novels set in this world forever, but if this is the end, it was a really great one. Thanks.
Thanks to David Fickling for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's a little more world building in this one, which was great; it was sad but interesting to see how the rest of the Nation was faring, both those too old to be Called and the so called 'survivors' of the Call. One of the things that really struck me was the repeated assurance that 'the Nation has no resources to waste on criminals'. It's a tiny detail but it paints a huge, unpleasant picture of the society forced on these people.
The ending was very clever; I only realised it about half a page ahead of Nessa, I'm ashamed to say, but once I'd read it I was able to look back and see the clues and hints sprinkled in throughout the book. I'd love to know what happened to some of the side characters who seemed to vanish, though. How about some short stories, Peader? (You probably don't remember me, I was the girl selling your book when you visited Clongowes late one winter evening...)
I could read novels set in this world forever, but if this is the end, it was a really great one. Thanks.
Thanks to David Fickling for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
Usually when I pick up a sequel some time after reading the first book, it takes a while to get back into the flow of the story, to remember the world and the characters and all the little things that make the story unique. Not with this book. Two pages in I was already sucked back into this strange, hopeless Ireland and the struggles its people were facing.
There's a little more world building in this one, which was great; it was sad but interesting to see how the rest of the Nation was faring, both those too old to be Called and the so called 'survivors' of the Call. One of the things that really struck me was the repeated assurance that 'the Nation has no resources to waste on criminals'. It's a tiny detail but it paints a huge, unpleasant picture of the society forced on these people.
The ending was very clever; I only realised it about half a page ahead of Nessa, I'm ashamed to say, but once I'd read it I was able to look back and see the clues and hints sprinkled in throughout the book. I'd love to know what happened to some of the side characters who seemed to vanish, though. How about some short stories, Peader? (You probably don't remember me, I was the girl selling your book when you visited Clongowes late one winter evening...)
I could read novels set in this world forever, but if this is the end, it was a really great one. Thanks.
Thanks to David Fickling for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's a little more world building in this one, which was great; it was sad but interesting to see how the rest of the Nation was faring, both those too old to be Called and the so called 'survivors' of the Call. One of the things that really struck me was the repeated assurance that 'the Nation has no resources to waste on criminals'. It's a tiny detail but it paints a huge, unpleasant picture of the society forced on these people.
The ending was very clever; I only realised it about half a page ahead of Nessa, I'm ashamed to say, but once I'd read it I was able to look back and see the clues and hints sprinkled in throughout the book. I'd love to know what happened to some of the side characters who seemed to vanish, though. How about some short stories, Peader? (You probably don't remember me, I was the girl selling your book when you visited Clongowes late one winter evening...)
I could read novels set in this world forever, but if this is the end, it was a really great one. Thanks.
Thanks to David Fickling for providing a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
curls's review
3.0
Not as good as the excellent first book - The Call. But it’s still a creepy world and a good read before Halloween.
If you’re looking for a fantasy that will give you chills, read the first book - The Call.
If you’re looking for a fantasy that will give you chills, read the first book - The Call.
vydetten's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0